Most babies can start learning to drink from a cup at around 6 months, right as solid foods begin. You can offer a small open cup or a straw cup with a little breast milk, formula, or water at mealtimes, and aim to have your baby off the bottle somewhere between 12 and 18 months.
If you have ever watched your baby grab for your water glass and wondered, "Is it too early for a cup?", you are asking one of the most common feeding questions parents have. The good news is that cup drinking is a skill babies start practicing much earlier than most of us expect, and it does not have to be a stressful, all-at-once switch.
This guide walks through when to introduce a cup, the difference between open cups, sippy cups, and straw cups, what to put in the cup at each age, and how to make the change gradually. As always, every baby is a little different, so take these as general milestones and check with your pediatrician about your own child.
When Can Babies Start Using a Cup?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests introducing a cup at around 6 months, which is the same window when many babies begin solid foods. At this stage the goal is not to replace the bottle or breast overnight. It is simply to let your baby start learning a brand-new skill: sipping instead of sucking.
Early on, a cup is practice, not a primary source of nutrition. Breast milk or formula is still your baby's main drink through the first year. A few sips from a cup at mealtimes is a win, even if most of it ends up on the tray or the bib at first. That is completely normal and part of learning.
Cup drinking also supports the wider move from milk to family meals. If your little one is just starting purees and finger foods, our guide to introducing solids for formula-fed babies pairs well with starting a cup, since both are usually introduced around the same age.
Cups by Age: A Simple Timeline
Here is a general, age-by-age picture of how cup drinking tends to develop. Think of it as a flexible map rather than a strict schedule — your baby may reach these points a little earlier or later.
| Age | What's Usually Happening | Cup to Try |
|---|---|---|
| Around 6 months | Starting solids; interested in what you drink; can sit with support. | Small open cup or straw cup, offered at meals with help. |
| 7–9 months | More hand control; practicing self-feeding; may hold the cup briefly. | Two-handled trainer cup, soft-spout cup, or straw cup. |
| 9–12 months | Drinking more confidently; bottles can start to drop at meals first. | Open cup with help, plus a straw cup for on the go. |
| 12–18 months | Transitioning fully off the bottle; cups become the main way to drink. | Open cup and/or straw cup for most drinks. |
| By about 2 years | Ready to drink mostly from an open cup, like the rest of the family. | Open cup, with a straw cup for travel if helpful. |
Notice that the bottle and the cup overlap for months — this is expected. There is no single day you have to "switch." Most families layer a cup in alongside the bottle and gradually shift the balance over time.
Open Cup vs. Sippy Cup vs. Straw Cup
Walk down any feeding aisle and the options can feel overwhelming. Here is how the three main types compare, along with what pediatric and dental groups generally suggest.
| Cup Type | How It Works | Good to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Open cup | A small, lidless cup the child sips from, usually with your help at first. | Encourages a mature sip-and-swallow pattern. Messy early on, but great practice. Start with a tiny amount of liquid. |
| Straw cup | A lidded cup with a straw the child draws liquid through. | Tidy and travel-friendly. Many parents like it as an everyday option alongside an open cup. |
| Sippy cup (spout) | A lidded cup with a hard or soft spout; the child tips and sips. | Handy for spills. If you use one, choosing a valve-free, soft-spout model with two handles keeps the sipping action closer to a cup than a bottle. Think of it as a short-term bridge. |
The AAP notes that children do well being able to drink from an open cup by about age 2, and that open cups with or without a straw are both good choices. Sippy cups are best treated as a temporary learning tool rather than a long-term habit, and no-spill valve cups ask the child to suck much like a bottle does. Many parents simply offer a straw cup and a small open cup side by side and let their child grow into the open cup over time.
What to Put in the Cup, by Age
What goes in the cup changes as your baby grows. Here is a simple reference, in line with current US pediatric guidance.
| Age | Best Drinks for the Cup |
|---|---|
| Around 6 months | Start with what your baby already drinks — breast milk or formula. Once they adjust, small sips of plain water at mealtimes are fine. |
| 6–12 months | Breast milk or formula as the main drink, plus small amounts of plain water with meals. Cow's milk as a main drink is generally held until 12 months. |
| 12 months and up | Whole cow's milk (or a pediatrician-approved alternative) and plain water become the everyday drinks in the cup. |
A few extra pointers that pediatric and dental groups generally agree on: plain water is the healthiest everyday drink, juice is best limited and is not recommended before 12 months, and sippy cups should be filled with plain water rather than juice or sweet drinks to help protect new teeth. For more on timing and portions, see our guide to when babies can have juice.
If your little one is approaching their first birthday, the move to whole milk often happens right alongside dropping the bottle. If your toddler is hesitant about the switch, our guide on what to try when a toddler won't drink cow's milk can help, and if you are weighing whole milk against a toddler milk, our comparison of toddler milk vs. whole milk after 12 months breaks down the options. European toddler milks are one option among several, not a requirement — always check the current label for the right age and preparation.
How to Introduce a Cup, Step by Step
Introducing a cup works best when it is low-pressure and consistent. A simple approach that works for many families:
- Start small and at mealtimes. Offer a cup with a little breast milk, formula, or water when your baby is already sitting for a meal and in a good mood.
- Fill it with just a bit. A small amount of liquid means less mess and less frustration while your baby figures out the new motion.
- Let them explore. Babies learn by mouthing, tipping, and even chewing the cup. Expect drips, and keep it playful rather than a test.
- Model it. Let your baby watch you sip from your own cup. Imitation is a powerful teacher at this age.
- Offer daily. Short, regular practice beats one long session. A few sips at each meal adds up quickly.
- Follow their lead. Some babies take to a straw, others to an open cup. Try a couple of styles and keep the one that clicks.
Two handles can help little hands feel in control, and a soft spout or straw is often a gentle first step before a fully open cup. Keep sessions calm; if your baby is frustrated or tired, it is fine to set the cup aside and try again another day.
Moving Off the Bottle
As cup skills grow, the bottle naturally starts to fade. Pediatric guidance generally suggests beginning to cut back on bottles around 6 months and aiming to complete the move between 12 and 18 months, with the nap and bedtime bottles usually the last and hardest to drop.
A gentle way to do it is to replace one bottle at a time with a cup — often starting with a daytime feeding — and keep the comforting bedtime routine in place while you swap what is in it. If you want a full plan for this stage, our dedicated guide to weaning your baby off the bottle and onto a cup walks through the timeline and troubleshooting in detail. It also helps to remember that dropping the bottle and dropping formula are two separate milestones — your baby can be cup-confident while still having formula or milk in that cup.
Curious where your baby is on the self-feeding path? Our overview of when babies start holding their own bottle gives helpful context on the hand skills behind cup drinking, too.
Who This Matters For
Learning to drink from a cup is a milestone for every baby, but a few situations make it especially worth paying attention to:
- Babies around 6 months starting solids. A cup fits naturally into the same mealtime routine as first foods.
- Families heading toward the first birthday. Cup skills make the move off the bottle and onto whole milk much smoother.
- Breastfed babies who skipped the bottle. A cup of expressed breast milk can be introduced around 6 months, so a bottle is not a required step.
- Parents thinking about teeth and routines. Moving toward open or straw cups, and keeping sweet drinks out of cups, supports healthy habits early.
Wherever your family is, remember that this is a gradual developmental process, not a pass-or-fail event. Parents often find that a little daily practice, and a cup their child actually enjoys, makes all the difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can babies start using a cup?
Most babies can begin practicing with a cup around 6 months, the same time solid foods usually start. Early on it is about learning the skill, with breast milk or formula still the main source of nutrition.
Open cup or sippy cup — which is better?
Both can work. Open cups (with or without a straw) encourage a mature sip, and the AAP suggests children be able to drink from an open cup by about age 2. If you use a sippy cup, a valve-free, soft-spout model is generally preferred and is best treated as a short-term bridge.
What should I put in my baby's first cup?
Start with what your baby already drinks — breast milk or formula — then add small sips of plain water at mealtimes once they adjust. Whole cow's milk typically becomes an everyday cup drink at 12 months.
When should my baby be off the bottle?
General guidance is to start cutting back on bottles around 6 months and finish the transition between 12 and 18 months, with nap and bedtime bottles usually the last to go.
Does my baby need a special toddler milk in the cup after 12 months?
Not necessarily. After 12 months many families use whole cow's milk and water. European toddler milks are one option among several, not a requirement. If you choose one, check the current box label for the correct age range and how to prepare it, and ask your pediatrician what fits your child.
This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Formulas and products can change, so always read the current package label, and talk with your pediatrician about your baby's feeding, drinks, and any concerns.
Cups & Feeding Sets at EuromallUSA
Looking for a cup to start with? A few parent favorites from our feeding range:
- Mushie Silicone Starter Cup — a small, soft open cup made for early sipping practice around 6 months.
- Ezpz Mini Cup + Straw Training System — an open cup plus straw setup for learning both skills.
- Mushie Soft Spout Sippy Cup — a soft-spout cup as a gentle bridge between bottle and open cup.
- Trainer Sippy Cup with Handles — two handles to help little hands hold and tip.
Browse the full Baby Tableware collection for cups, straws, and feeding sets. We ship across the US with fast, tracked delivery, and our Subscribe & Save option takes 10% off formula and essentials you reorder.
Related Articles
- Weaning Your Baby Off the Bottle: When and How to Switch to a Cup
- When Do Babies Hold Their Own Bottle? A Developmental Guide
- My Toddler Won't Drink Cow's Milk: What Parents Can Try
- When Can Babies Have Juice? A Parent's Guide by Age
- How to Choose Baby Formula: A First-Time Parent Guide
- Best European Baby Formula: HiPP vs Holle vs Kendamil vs Aptamil
The Bottom Line
Cup drinking is a skill babies can start practicing around 6 months and grow into over the next year and a half. Offer a small open cup or straw cup at mealtimes, keep it low-pressure, let the bottle and cup overlap, and gradually shift the balance. Start with breast milk, formula, or water, move toward whole milk and water after the first birthday, and keep sweet drinks out of the cup to protect new teeth.
Most of all, go at your baby's pace. A little daily practice and a cup your child enjoys are usually all it takes. When you are ready to stock up on cups, feeding sets, or the formula your baby already loves, EuromallUSA offers single cans, hard-to-find specialty options, and a Subscribe & Save 10% option for the essentials you reorder — and your pediatrician is always the best guide for your own child.
Sources
- American Academy of Pediatrics — HealthyChildren.org, "Discontinuing the Bottle" (cup introduction, open vs. sippy cups, weaning timing, what to put in the cup).
- American Academy of Pediatrics / HealthyChildren.org — recommended drinks for young children (water, milk, limiting juice).
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — Infant and Toddler Nutrition: introducing a cup and water around 6 months.
